Many adults don't realise how bad some school toilets are. Problems experienced by pupils include:

• Dirty, smelly toilets
• Broken seats, doors and toilet roll holders
• Not enough toilet paper, soap or hand drying facilities
• Lack of privacy – doors that don’t lock, cubicles that can be peered over or under easily, urinals that can be viewed from outside the toilet area
• Bullies and/or smokers hanging out in the toilets
• Restricted access to toilets – only being allowed to go at break or not enough time allowed to go
• Toilets inconveniently located and/or not accessible to pupils, including those with special needs

Having special needs doesn't just mean needing wheelchair access. Some pupils suffer from medical conditions which mean they need more privacy and time for the toilet. 10% of children have problems with continence, and it is even more important for these pupils to be able to go to the toilet when they need to and in privacy.

Horrible toilets mean pupils drink less during the day in order to avoid going to the loo. The resulting dehydration can cause constipation, headaches, fatigue and lack of concentration. Longer term problems include bladder infections and an increased risk of certain cancers.

Not drinking enough during the day can also reduce bladder capacity. If children drink most of their daily fluid when they get home, their bladders may not be able to cope and this increases the risk of bedwetting.

Not wanting to go to the toilet during the day means pupils try to 'hang on' until they get home or will only go when desperate. If pupils are also faced with restricted access to the toilet during the day, so they can't go when they need to, this may lead to bad bowel and bladder habits.